Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany said alternatives exist to a "pay-for-play" model, such as not offering athletic scholarships and using a need-based financial aid model.

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- In a federal court declaration filed last week, Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany wrote that he believes Big Ten schools would deemphasize college sports if the Ed O'Bannon lawsuit results in college players sharing television revenue.

Delany joined other college sports leaders in support of the NCAA's motion against class certification by the O'Bannon plaintiffs. Delany's assertion, if it's to be believed, is one of the strongest yet by such a powerful person in college sports.

"... it has been my longstanding belief that the The Big Ten's schools would forgo the revenues in those circumstances and instead take steps to downsize the scope, breadth and activity of their athletic programs," Delany wrote. "Several alternatives to a 'pay for play' model exist, such as the Division III model, which does not offer any athletics-based grants-in-aid, and, among others, a need-based financial model. These alternatives would, in my view, be more consistent with The Big Ten's philosophy that the educational and lifetime economic benefits associated with a university education are the appropriate quid pro quo for its student athletes."

Are these threats simply gamesmanship by Delany and others to gain leverage in the court of public opinion? Delany told SI.com's Andy Staples it's not what he wants but it's not a bluff, either.

"It's a statement of belief," Delany said. "I think that's what would happen. I do not believe that the hypothetical case being put forth -- if it actually became the case -- that Big Ten institutions would engage in that."

Sonny Vaccaro, the shoe-company marketing executive who is a consultant for the O'Bannon plaintiffs, doesn't believe what Delany is saying.

"It's the most irrational statement I've ever seen from a person who's in power to do something for the players," Vaccaro said. "Pay-for-play is not a true statement. What it is and what it always will be is compensation for these kids when they're no longer at the school so they're part of the process."

Vaccaro said Delany's comments are "insane" given that conferences such as the Big Ten are "too big to fail." Vaccaro questions what happens in a deemphasized model to contractual obligations with TV and shoe companies, not to mention how universities would pay off debt they're running up to build athletic facilities.

"What I would have hoped is people like this in authority overlooking the athletes, because they have no legal representation, is let's do the right thing by the participants," Vaccaro said. "Let's understand the world has changed. Basically, it was a threat so the public thinks the players are wrong.

"If that's what they want to do, they should do it without funding new stadiums and paying millions of dollars to themselves. What Mr. Delany does not admit to is the value of the Big Ten Network to pay the salaries. If this happens, then Mr. Delany and his whole office will be out of work."

Delany's statements reflect how polarizing the topic is of compensating college athletes beyond the traditional athletic scholarship.

The money continues to increase in college sports. The Big Ten's annual payout rose from $4 million per school in 1994 to $23.7 million per school in 2012. SI.com has reported the Big Ten's distribution to schools will be $43 million each year by 2017.

If nothing else, Vaccaro said the O'Bannon suit has caused college sports leaders to talk about issues they rarely discuss in public.

"I'm so glad Mr. Delany felt fit to talk about the student-athlete relationship vs. the university," Vaccaro said. "He failed to mention the academic scandal at the University of Minnesota (in the 1990s). If you follow the bouncing ball, the Big Ten players have now started their three-week migration throughout America to play in a basketball tournament. It's so hypocritical. I was happy by what he said so the public can understand they're so blinded by the commitments they already started."